Myanmar , which is also known as Burma , has been under military rule since 1962 . Critics say the November 7 elections -- its first in two decades -- aim to create a facade of democracy .

The constitution requires more than 100 military nominees in parliament , which critics say is aimed at tightening the regime 's grip on the Southeast Asian nation .

Democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi has said she will not vote in the elections .

Her party won a landslide election victory in 1990 , but the military junta rejected the results .

The regime recently passed a law that made Suu Kyi ineligible to run because of a court conviction . The Nobel laureate has called the law unjust . Her supporters have said the conviction was a way to remove her from the election campaign .

Suu Kyi has spent most of the past 20 years under house arrest . The new law forced her party , the National League for Democracy , to choose between honoring her as its leader and risking the party being declared illegal -- or ejecting Suu Kyi from the party and contesting the election . It decided to skip the race .

Read CNN reporter 's firsthand account of Myanmar after Cyclone Nargis

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Myanmar has been under military rule since 1962

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Junta-ruled country to hold first elections in 20 years

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Democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi not allowed to run

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Her party won a landslide victory in 1990 , but junta rejected results